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Clemson's Willy Korn was named as Clemson's starting quarterback by head coach Tommy Bowden for next Saturday's game against Georgia Tech.

CLEMSON — Clemson coach Tommy Bowden says he has to find a spark offensively. Others might say it’s the embattled coach’s last desperate effort to save his job. Either way, Clemson will have a new starting quarterback when the Tigers host Georgia Tech next Saturday afternoon in Death Valley.

During his teleconference with the media Friday, Bowden announced redshirt freshman Willy Korn will start the Georgia Tech game.

“We have to find a spark offensively, and with the injuries we have had on that side of the ball, we have had to reevaluate our plan and having a more mobile quarterback gives us more options,” he said.

Korn replaces last year’s surprise and second-team All-ACC quarterback Cullen Harper after the fifth-year senior again struggled in the Tigers’ 12-7 loss to No. 21 Wake Forest Thursday night. Harper completed just 15-of-35 passes for 177 yards in the loss, while throwing for the team’s only touchdown and a costly interception which swung momentum early in the fourth quarter with Clemson nursing a 7-3 lead.

“He has been a pretty productive quarterback, but he has struggled some this year,” Bowden said.

Harper has struggled a lot, especially with his down-the-field passes, which a year ago where crisp and accurate in leading him to an ACC high in passing efficiency, while accounting for a school-record 27 touchdown passes to just six interceptions for 2,991 yards.

But since injuring his shoulder in last year’s Boston College game, which forced him to have surgery on his right shoulder after the South Carolina game, Harper hasn’t been the same. The ACC’s preseason favorite for Player of the Year honors has followed the surgery with sub-par outings through the first half of the season.

Though he has completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 1,121 yards, he has already matched his interception total from a season ago and has thrown just four touchdowns. Like his Clemson team, the favorite to win the ACC, Harper is just a shell of the player that set 21 school records in his first year as a starter.

“He has been a little more banged up this year,” Bowden said. “Obviously, the line is a little bit different. He has just struggled a little bit. We just need to find a spark.”

With Clemson (3-3, 1-2 ACC) generating just seven points over the last six quarters, Bowden knew he could not wait any longer for Harper to improve, so he sat down with offensive coordinator Rob Spence and voiced his opinion. The two left the meeting in full agreement that a change needed to be made.

“I waited so long because I thought this was the appropriate time,” Bowden said. “I didn’t think the appropriate time was earlier. When you make a move like this, I want to make sure I make them for the right reasons.”

Korn, who was a dual-threat quarterback at Byrnes High School in Duncan, threw for 10,716 yards in high school, but was also know for his running, including a 195-yard effort in one game. He also set a school record for rushing touchdowns in a game with four.

Thus far in mop-up duty this season, Korn has completed 14-of-18 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, while also running five times for 18 yards. Before suffering a shoulder injury himself last season, Korn completed 8-of-11 passes for 100 yards, while running 10 more times for 28 yards.

“He runs better. He gives us more options,” Bowden said. “When protection breaks down with some of the injuries we have, you still have a chance to make a positive play.

“That makes you think. That’s why we are going in that direction. You have to find a spark plug.”

Bowden said his decision to make this change was not influenced by any administrative officer at Clemson.

“I made the decision based on the things I said. Number one, we need to find a spark offensively, and then with the injuries we have on that side of the ball right now, we need to reevaluate our plan of attack,” he said. “We need to do something to generate more offense. The more mobility you have at quarterback, then it gives you more options.

“That’s why I made the decision.”

Spence to call plays. Bowden said he will not get more involved with the play calling, despite the fact Clemson struggled to do anything offensively against Wake Forest. Clemson totaled just 198 yards, including just 21 on the ground.

“You are disappointed in productivity, but I have not lost confidence in him,” Bowden said. “Just because I have confidence in him doesn’t mean I’m happy with the productivity… That’s why we are going to have to reevaluate our plan of attack. I’m obviously not happy because we have only scored one touchdown in six quarters. That’s nothing to be happy about.”

Injuries. Running back C.J. Spiller has a hamstring injury and Bowden doesn’t know how long that will take to heal. There were no new updates on any of the other four injured players – guards Cory Lambert and Mason Cloy and wide receivers Tyler Grisham and Jacoby Ford – from Thursday’s game.

Clemson will practice Sunday night to start preparations for the Georgia Tech game.